Disgruntled fans appeal $76,000 ruling for Super Bowl seat mix-up

DALLAS (Reuters) - (This 25 August 2015 story was refiled to correct the spelling of Pittsburgh to Pittsburg in the last paragraph)

A group of disgruntled fans who sued the National Football League over a seating fiasco at the 2011 Super Bowl has appealed a $76,000 jury award in the hope of potentially receiving more money, the fans’ attorney said on Tuesday.

A federal jury in March ruled in favor of seven fans who claimed that the NFL breached its ticket contract with them by not having all temporary seats ready in time for the Super Bowl XLV game at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium on Feb. 6, 2011.

The jury sided with the fans on most points and awarded individual amounts ranging from about $5,700 to $22,000.

In the appeal filed last week, fans argued that claims of fraud against the NFL and allegations of deceptive trade practices should not have been dismissed by the district court.

The fans also claimed that the Dallas Cowboys should not have been dismissed as a party to the lawsuit because of their contract with the NFL to deliver the seats and sell some tickets.

"If we are successful in the appeal, we will then be permitted to pursue additional fraud and punitive damages," the fans' attorney, Michael Avenatti, said.
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